New book illustrates king’s support to women’s cause

JEDDAH: The Women Cultural Forum in Jeddah recently published the book King Abdullah and Achievements for Women. The book describes King Abdullah’s support to women and the achievements he accomplished for the benefit of all of his people. The book was distributed among government institutions.

The authors, Zubaida Musalli, Nadia Sheikh and Shahinaz Al-Sabban collected the decisions and pronouncements in support of women that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah made during his reign.“The king was just and gave women his full support based on a profound Islamic vision for equality,” read the introduction.The idea for the book had been in Musalli’s mind for some time before she and her associates started working on it. “It was a dream that I had for two years,” said Musalli.

When Musalli decided to realize her idea, she formed a committee within the forum. The committee comprised, beside her, Nadia Sheikh and Al-Sabban. “I wanted to document Custodian of the Two Mosques’ decisions that supported women and led to their accomplishments,” she said, adding she had met and interviewed princesses and officials for that purpose.Musalli said that it is the forum’s custom to honor outstanding people with great accomplishments every year.“I hesitated about this particular project, given the high status of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.”

The book is richly illustrated with pictures, describing the king in different stages of his life. King Abdullah appointed women as members of the Shoura Council, enabling them to vote and run for the membership of municipal councils.He raised social security allowances for divorced women and widows and he took a keen interest in the fate the condition of female prisoners.All decisions he took related to the economy included points that would enable women to be economically independent.The largest women-only university was opened in Riyadh during his reign and the king has always been supportive of the scientific achievements of women. – Arabnews